TACOMA, Wash. – The Pacific Lutheran University softball team wouldn't let a tough start to Sunday's doubleheader get in its way of coming away victorious. The Lutes suffered a 4-0 defeat to start the day, but rallied for a 5-3 win in Game 2 behind a strong pitching performance from
Z Ellis.
Game 2
PLU fell behind 2-0 to start the night cap on Sunday, but the bottom of order for PLU got things going in the second.
Mikayla Chun drew a one-out walk and
Kennedy Robillard followed with a base hit. Each runner moved up a base after a wild pitch and a
Nanea Kalama base hit to left allowed both Chun and Robillard to score after a throwing error by the Bruins.
With the game tied 2-2, it was Chun and Robillard again who got things started. Chun stroked a one-out double to left center field and Robillard reached on an error as
Cailey Collado, who pinch ran for Chun, moved to third. Kalama scored Collado with a groundout to third base and a
Kamryn Adkins single up the gut knocked in Robillard.
The Lutes added to their lead in the next half inning as
Erin McGrath singled in
Raynna Mekaru, who led off the inning with a double.
In the circle,
Z Ellis (1-0) tossed the complete-game victory despite allowing nine hits over seven innings. Ellis tossed 122 pitches on the day and struck out five to earn her first win of the season.
Game 1
The Lute offense was unable to get going as they produced just two hits in their first home game of the 2021 season.
Cailey Collado had a single in the second inning and
Emma Ware had a leadoff single to start the third, but the Lute pinch runner was doubled off on a line drive to the right fielder.
The Bruins scored two runs in the second inning off of Lute freshman
Molly House (0-1), before hitting solo home runs in the fourth and fifth innings. House tossed five innings, gave up three earned runs and stuck out four. In relief,
Marley Dyer struck out the side in the sixth and tossed a hitless seventh.
PLU (2-2) will head to Linfield University next Saturday for a doubleheader beginning at noon.
